Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton, said the release of the first update of the Speakers Guide aligned with International Women’s Day as a reminder of what the industry can do together as part of its work towards gender equality.

“With the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day being #BalanceforBetter, we acknowledge the need for collective action in the acceleration of gender parity across all industries. The Speakers Guide is the result of collective action in the clean energy industry, beginning with panels at industry events,” Mr Thornton said.

“While there is still a long way to go, the Speakers Guide is one of the many first steps, along with the Panel Pledge, towards achieving a renewable energy industry with better gender diversity, which empowers and champions women at all levels.

“Gone are the days where event planners can use the excuse that they couldn’t find someone to fit the bill. We have captured over 200 women across the country with a huge range of skills and experience within the industry, who would welcome the opportunity to appear as panel members or speakers at industry events.

“The Speakers Guide helps to strengthen the industry by working towards creating equal opportunity for men and women. Research shows that diversity leads to better outcomes, and I’ve seen firsthand that panels with equal representation spark deeper and more interesting conversations.”